In
this open symposium, panel members will discuss the possibility
of Networked Virtual Environment for choreography with mixed
reality design. With this enironment, participants of this research
exchange project between Japan and the UK/Europe are producing
the choreographic installation "Ukiyo" in 2009-2010. "Ukiyo"
is a cross-cultural networked collaboration for the digital
live arts of the next generation.

The DAP-Lab company will plan exhibition of the new work in
the U.K, Europe, and Tokyo at various media arts and performing
arts centers in 2010 with the support of a grant by the Japan
Foundation. Ukiyo I, an interactive choreographic installation,
had its world premiere, June 1, 2009, Antonin Artaud Centre,
Brunel University.

Conceived
and directed by Johannes Birringer, the installation UKIYO I,
staged in London in June 2009, featured choreography and live
sound by an ensemble of daners and musicians, with fashion design
concept and art direction by Michele Danjoux, photography by
Paul Verity Smith; and 3D graphics and interface design by P
V Smith & Doros Polydorou and artists from Tokyo (Inetdance
Japan) who had participated in the workshops in London; original
music and real time synthesis created by Oded Ben-Tal with scenography
by Johannes Birringer, and lighting design by Mamen Rivera.
"Ukiyo" explores the layers of perceptions in an audiovisual
world that constantly shifts and fragments; the audience is
invited to move in and around the space which, in its current
version features five hanamichi (runways). Dancers perform simultaneous
with digital objects in a virtual environment that is projected.
The music and visual choreography for "Ukiyo" are designed for
real-time interaction to animate the feedback system and generative
algorithms through with the virtual space and the performer
movements are intertwined.

In the second phase of the UKIYO project collaboration, the
DAP-Lab team (Brunel University) will reside in Tokyo and be
guests in residence at Mixed Reality Lab, Hiyoshi Campus, Keio
University, directed by Professor Adrian Cheok. There the researchers
from Japan and Europe will spend several days investigating
new approaches to 3d virtual reality and virtual movement design,
and exchanging knowledge and methodologies. In the second half
of the UKIYO research encounter, Johannes Birringer and his
DAP team will meet some of the leading Japanese choreographers
and digital artists interested in hybrid performance choreography,
and they will work together from 9th to 12th December 2009.
An international symposium is hosted by Keio University during
this time frame, with an evening program of presentations and
films.

This
research project is funded by a PM12 Connect/British Council
Grant, and a RDF (Brunel University) grant, and is supported by an award from The Japan Foundation. Special thanks to Christian Kracht, author of "Ich werde hier sein im Sonnenschein und im Schatten".